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ARTICLES
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4 Signs That Your apartment Clubhouse Needs a Refresh
Let's talk about something near and dear to our hearts – your beloved apartment clubhouse. Now, we all know that the clubhouse is the social hub, the place where laughs are shared, memories are made, and friendships are forged. But sometimes even the liveliest clubhouse needs a little sprucing up, a touch of pizzazz to keep the good times rolling. So, let's dive into the signs that your clubhouse is ready for a refresh, shall we? |
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Lori Ann Dinkins, President and CEO of Mood Interior Designs in Charlotte, North Carolina, believes the rise in co-working is evidence that student housing designs is further mirroring multifamily in general. "Student housing is aligning more closely with market-rate apartments," she says. "Study spaces are essentially the cyber cafes and co-working spaces of the multifamily world. The design trick is prioritizing study spaces that can both accommodate academic needs and satisfy student demand for flexibility - so students can feel like they are studying in a new space every day."
Student Housing Business, March/April 2023 Issue. Page 52 |
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Happy New Year!!
I saw a hawk today. Not a big deal if I was taking a hike in the woods, but I was at a stoplight with a car full of Target loot, at a very busy intersection. I didn't just see the hawk flying around - she landed in a grassy area right next to my idling car and looked at up me like we were waiting for the green light together. I instinctively reached for my phone to take a picture of the hawk - but I somehow knew she would fly away if I did. So I didn't. And she stayed. Of course the moment I parked the car in my driveway, I googled what hawks represent - because it's New Years Day and everything is poised for deeper meaning. And let me tell you, I hit the jackpot with my hawk sighting. |
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Happy Anniversary Mood: Abundance Mindset
I had a moment with my teammate last week because a project came in that was so thrilling - we stared at each other via Zoom and giggled. She was my first hire when I started Mood - and a few years later, we still get ridiculously excited about the work we do. I’m a business woman who believes in and subscribes to the ideology of abundance. Not the more mac-n-cheese and biscuits kind of abundance - although, yes please. I mean, as a leader with an abundance mindset I know, believe, and trust that there are enough new design projects, and new client opportunities to go around for everyone. |
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What Role Do Movies & Streaming Play In Austin Commercial Interior Design?
If you’re a movie buff, you might feel it in the air — the surge of award season movies that tend to come out during the fall and winter months. Or maybe you’re more of a casual viewer, who savors cozy days spent catching up on your streaming to-watch list at home. Either way, it’s easy to see cinema’s impact on our daily lives — but what about on commercial interior design? Yes, that’s right! For multifamily and student housing developers, your potential residents’ movie-viewing habits can certainly influence your design choices. Fortunately, you don’t need to guess about how to best attract your silver screen lovers. Here are a few tips to keep in mind during the design stage. |
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What A Charlotte NC Interior Designer Has Learned About Working In The Country’s Fastest-Growing Cities
Charlotte. Austin. Raleigh/Durham. What do these metropolitan areas have in common? Well, there’s a lot — from their thriving arts scenes, to their Southern charm, to the delicious foodie offerings that abound in every direction. But perhaps most importantly, these three enclaves are listed among U.S. News & World Report’s 25 Fastest-Growing Places in the Country — a ranking based on net migration (i.e., how many new people move to a given place in a five-year period). At Mood Interior Designs, we operate in these communities (and then some!), and have had the privilege of witnessing that growth firsthand. Playing a part in local population booms isn’t just rewarding on a personal level — it’s taught us a lot, too! For multifamily developers and investors looking to harness growth in their own communities, here are a few key insights we’ve gained along the way. |
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Wondering Where To Find Inspiration For Commercial Clubhouse Design?
Raise your hand if you work where you live — or is it live where you work? We get confused sometimes, too! With the advent of the remote (or hybrid) workspace over the last two years, that line has been blurrier than ever. That isn’t to say working from the comfort of home is a bad thing, of course — for families, young professionals, and many more groups, a flexible workspace is more productive and conducive to a well-rounded lifestyle. If you develop multifamily or student housing communities, the work-from-home (lovingly referred to as WFH) crowd is one you’ll want to keep in mind as you design your commercial clubhouse — because they’re on the move! |
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The Foodie Generation Isn’t Slowing Down! Your Commercial Clubhouse Design Team Can Help You Meet Their Needs
From cronuts to avocado toast, it seems like there’s a new culinary trend every year — and with the advent of social media, it’s easier than ever to witness the rise and fall of a food fad. But while the actual dishes may wane over the years, the phenomenon that’s known as being a foodie isn’t going anywhere. Let’s face it: we’re hungry! Not just for straight-up sustenance, but for the layered experience that a delicious meal (or the making of) can bring to us and our loved ones. If you’re a multifamily or student housing developer, it’s important to recognize that your commercial clubhouse design shouldn’t just look beautiful — it should also provide a welcoming place for communities to gather and share in the foodie fun. Wondering how to do that? Mood Interior Designs has a few fun ideas to keep in mind. Just read on and dig in! |
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More Than a Splash: What Features Do Renters Want In An Outdoor Poolscape? A Clubhouse Design Member Answers
There’s nothing more relaxing than a lazy day at the pool — floating on the surface and enjoying the sunshine or curled up under an umbrella with a stack of magazines you’ve been meaning to catch up on. If this sounds like your summer reality, you’re not alone. But for developers and investors of multifamily communities, that perfect pool day doesn’t happen by chance — in fact, planning for it can start when most people are stashing away their swimsuits and pool towels for the fall. Here at Mood, our clubhouse design team knows that your community pool needs more than, well, a pool — it needs a place to gather. To unwind. Maybe to cook or dine with friends, too! Here’s a look at a few features renters love in their multifamily pool facilities, and how to make your community even more attractive. |
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How to Create Spaces That Make Students *Want* To Go Back To School? The Commercial Interior Design Pros At Mood Have Some Ideas
In cities across the county, student housing properties spent most of the summer preparing for their version of back-to-school season - the return of college students. They made spaces safe, clean, and equipped for all their studying needs. Property teams make spaces fun and community driven which gives students their best shot at the quintessential “college experience.” If you’re in charge of updating or leasing up an on- or off-campus student housing facility, you know that you’re tasked with winning over prospective residents (and their parents, too!). A tall order but a fun one, too. Here are a few ideas inspired by student living spaces across the country! |
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The Dog Days Of Summer Are Here! How To Please Pup Parents With A Clubhouse Design Firm
Pup parents know the sight — the adorable image of your furry friend relaxing in the sunshine and indulging in one of life’s simplest pleasures. They might want a water break, or simply the chance to recharge before embarking upon their next zoomie run. Either way, it’s safe to say that dogs love the sunshine — and their parents love sharing it with them! While simple grassy spaces and bare-bones dog parks might have sufficed for past generations of pooches, many of today’s dogs (or, rather, their owners) crave something a little more elaborate. Just read on to see a few fun features worth considering. |
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What Is A “Third Place” — & How Can Your Raleigh Commercial Interior Design Firm Help You Nail It?
When you hear “third place,” your mind might jump to the Olympics, or, say, your elementary school spelling bee. But what if the term actually held the key to creating a successful multifamily or off-campus community people want to call home? From amenity-packed community clubhouses, to vibrant outdoor gathering areas, third places don’t just serve as attractive perks for potential renters — they actively improve society, too. So, what might go into a third place in your multifamily or student community? Here are just a few potential options to consider. |
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Outside Is For The Birds and Residents: Summer Amenity Spaces
From the comfort of the air conditioned inside - outside is so pretty, spacious and full of fresh air adventures. When warm weather rolls in, cooped up residents start spending time out and about, slathering themselves in sunscreen and bug spray and plunking ping pong balls into red solo cups of warm beer. Question of the day: Will your outdoor amenity furniture live beyond the summer? Below are 3 design tips that will ensure your outdoor furniture thrives for many summers to come. |
Mood Knows
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November 19, 2021
Gen Z comprises an entire generation that seems to be uncomfortable - not knowing. It intrigues me how urgent their need to know can be, especially coming from a generation that collectively rolled our eyes when adults refused to give us the answer to a very simple question and responded with look it up! Unapologetically, Gen Z wants to know the who, the what, the why and the how does that work anyway? |
A Modern Mood
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October 20, 2021
I am experiencing a bit of fatigue - which is just down the street from exhaustion, around the corner from boredom, and the next town over from WTF. When fatigue sets in - the Mood team laughs together, takes long lunches, puts The Office on in the background, and eventually we find ourselves doing what we do best - leveraging design to help our clients close a deal, a house, or an apartment. Not as sexy as some jobs, but it’s what we are called to do. |
Mood Pricing Strategy
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April 16, 2021
Mood Interior Designs is more than throw pillows and color palettes. Behind every beautiful space is a well-planned budget that factors in everything down to the lightbulb. While establishing a budget isn’t a particularly glamorous task, it is an important skill to master to achieve project profitability and company growth. Because if you didn’t know, most design firms are for-profit businesses - just like yours. |
Community Is The New Amenity
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March 14, 2021
A strong, vibrant community requires far more than savvy economic investment and top-down strategic planning. Clubhouses and amenity spaces are critical to successful community building and offer properties a competitive advantage. When implementing an interior design strategy, it is important to ask which amenities bring the most value to residents and investors, and which will enhance the quality of life of the residents and minimize turnover. |
In The Mood To Splurge Or Save?
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February 5, 2021
The overarching goal of a professionally designed and merchandised model is to create a memorable feeling that will last long after the tour has ended. Mood’s design team helps our clients focus on what the future resident/buyer will need to see and feel when they walk through a space to inspire them to sign a lease or make an offer right away. While some investment is required when merchandising, refreshing or moving-over a model, follow our guide on where to splurge and where to save. |
Diversity In Design
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January 4, 2021
While the housing industry still struggles with diversity, progress has been made in recent years, and leading property management companies are deeply committed to the goal of inclusivity - both within their own organizations and with respect to the resident for whom they are housing. But diversity is not only about race and gender and checking the proverbial boxes; it is the catalyst for innovation, thought leadership, cultural relevance, and creativity. |
CASE STUDIES
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A deep dive into how to how Mood Interior Designs strategically adds value to your property with interior design, while saving your sanity, as well as time, money, and employee resources. Just like any classic story, someone or something has to tragically die in the beginning (thanks Disney!). In this story, let’s say goodbye to the idea that you, asset/regional/leasing manager - have to understand the business significance of interior design in order to increase your property’s overall value. Bang. Bang. That idea is dead.
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